JUST IN: Russian Missile Strikes Kill 11 in Central Ukraine Amid Rising Tensions
A wave of Russian missile attacks struck central Ukraine on Tuesday, killing at least 11 people and leaving scores injured, as the conflict between the two nations escalates with renewed intensity.
The deadly strikes, which hit schools, hospitals, shops, and kindergartens in the Dnipropetrovsk region, coincide with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to the Netherlands for high-level discussions at the NATO summit.
READ ALSO: 2027 Elections: INEC Says ADA Not Eligible for Registration Yet
Ukrainian emergency officials released disturbing images of bloodied civilians being pulled from rubble in the industrial city of Dnipro, one of the hardest-hit locations in the region now under increasing Russian pressure.
“This isn’t a morally complicated war,” Zelensky remarked after the attack. “To stand with Ukraine is to stand for life.”
The latest assault comes amid preparations for a key bilateral meeting between Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump, where expanded sanctions against Russia and further military support for Ukraine are expected to dominate discussions.
According to Ukrainian police, nine people were killed in Dnipro, with two additional deaths recorded in the nearby town of Samar. Over 100 others sustained injuries, while critical infrastructure—including a children’s hospital, educational institutions, and commercial centers—suffered extensive damage.
READ ALSO: Iran Expands Conflict: Fires Missiles at US Bases in Qatar and Iraq in Retaliation
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister described the attacks as a “direct rejection of peace” by the Kremlin, accusing Moscow of deliberately undermining ceasefire initiatives backed by both Ukraine and the United States.
Andriy Sybiga, a senior aide to President Zelensky, said the international community must hold Russia accountable. “Allies must respond with stronger measures. It’s not just a matter of politics, but credibility,” he said.
The violence also extended to northeastern Sumy, where drone strikes overnight killed three civilians, including a five-year-old child. Authorities say the victims were asleep in their homes when the attack occurred.
“This wasn’t a battlefield—these were families, entire households shattered by Russian drones,” said Oleg Grygorov, head of Sumy’s regional administration.
Meanwhile, Russia has accused Ukraine of retaliatory drone strikes within its borders. Authorities in Moscow reported injuries to two civilians, including a pregnant woman, after a drone hit a residential building. In the western Belgorod region, one man was killed and his wife injured in a separate incident.
Russia continues to occupy roughly 20 percent of Ukrainian territory and claims to have annexed four regions since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. Ukraine, however, insists that peace talks have repeatedly been sabotaged by Moscow’s territorial ambitions